PC Minutes 2009-03-171
CALL TO ORDER - The Arroyo Grande Planning Commission met in regular session
with Chair Ray presiding; also present were Commissioners Barneich, Brown, Keen and
Ruth. Staff members in attendance were Community Development Director, Rob
Strong.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: None.
AGENDA REVIEW: None.
MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION
MARCH 17, 2009
6:00 P.M.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Brown made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Barneich, to approve
the minutes of February 17, 2009 with the following modification:
• Pg. 3, last bullet under Barneich, change to "the setback between the two
buildings is close (5 feet) and the newly proposed building one in back may take
away from the existing front building oneent ".
• Pg. 4, last paragraph, change as follows "... (most of which are to diseased) ..."
The motion was approved by a 4/0 voice vote; Chair Ray abstaining due to absence at
that meeting.
Chair Ray made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Brown, to approve the minutes
of March 3, 2009 with the following modification:
• Pg. 2, last bullet under Ruth, last sentence, change to "development ".
The motion was approved by a 5/0 voice vote.
A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Gary Scherquist, 134 Corralitos Road and Historic Resources Committee (HRC)
member, addressed some current misconceptions about the HRC. He described his
background, including career work and commissions that have dealt directly with
historic preservation. He described the ordinance, including written criteria, that HRC
uses to guide their designation decisions. He also quoted sections from the Secretary
of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Rehabilitation:
"Rehabilitation is defined as the process of returning a property to a state of utility,
through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while
preserving those portions and features of the property which are significant to its
historic, architectural, and cultural values;" and "The Standards are to be applied to
specific rehabilitation projects in a reasonable manner, taking into consideration
economic and technical feasibility. "
B. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS AFTER AGENDA PREPARATION: None.
C. NOMINATION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR:
Commissioner Ruth made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Brown to nominate
Caren Ray as Chair. Motion approved on a 5/0 roll call vote.
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
MARCH 17, 2009
PAGE 2
Chair Ray made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Barneich to nominate Tim
Brown as Vice Chair. Motion approved on a 5/0 roll call vote.
II. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:
A. VARIANCE CASE NO. 09 -001; APPLICANT — GLENN BURGESS & SUSAN
ABUNDIS; LOCATION —'785 EASY STREET
Community Development Director, Rob Strong, presented the staff report prepared by
Planning Intern, Laura Pennebaker, for consideration of a Variance to reduce the
required side yard setbacks for a new single - family home on a vacant lot. In conclusion
Mr. Strong stated that staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the
Resolution approving Variance 09 -001 as conditioned. In response to Commissioner
Ruth, Mr. Strong replied that the in lieu fee (condition #32) should be calculated before
the building permit is issued, with imminent adoption of the nexus study. Commissioner
Brown asked if the variance would be unnecessary if they built a smaller house.
Chair Ray opened the public hearing for public comment.
Eddie Herrera, LGA representative /project manager, spoke in support of the project. He
discussed the site constraints: steep slope, small lot size, and client request for a single
story (not stepped) home.
• Commissioner Keen asked about LGA's planning process, noting the house
should have been designed within existing setbacks and a 20' variance is much
larger than Planning Commission would normally allow.
Susan Abundis, owner, described the project history. She didn't know about the
setbacks when she bought the property 10 years ago, and has requested an
architectural firm to design a footprint that would fit on the lot, while taking advantage of
the ocean view and being only a single story (to avoid steps during retirement). She
has met with Community Development Department staff in efforts to work with the City
and be good neighbors.
• Commissioner Keen asked if she had seen the previous approval with 20'
setbacks and suggested that might be easier for commissioners to approve.
Chair Ray closed the hearing for public comment.
Commissioners comments:
• Commissioners generally understood the desire for a single level retirement
home.
• They didn't feel the slope and lot size were enough of a site constraint to allow a
variance to the extent requested, especially in lieu of the total lot size and current
setback standards for this zone.
• Commissioners were concerned about proximity to neighbors with proposed
setbacks.
• Since it's still early in the design phase, it was suggested that the applicants
return with a redesigned project with setbacks closer to 20' (as previously
approved by Planning Commission).
',Case, No :,
App
Address
.;,: Description , = �
49 Actio nr
, Planne , ',.
1. VSR 08 -005
Arlene & Eric
Oliphant
306 Allen St.
Demolition of an existing house and
construction of a new two -story
single family house.
A.
J. Bergman
2. TUP 09 -005
& ASP 09 -007
NW Sign
Industries
(Chase Bank)
1242 E. Grand
Ave
Temporary and permanent
Signage for Chase Bank
A.
K. Heffernon
3. MUP /HRD
08 -002
C. HRC /City
of A.G.
200 E. Branch St.
Consider Historic Designation of
Building Dept. Bldg.
D.
R. Strong
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PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
MARCH 17, 2009
The applicants requested a month's time for the continuance and redesign.
Commissioner Barneich made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Keen, to continue
Variance Case No. 09 -001 to date certain of April 21, 2009. Motion approved on a 5/0
roll call vote.
III. NON - PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: None.
Administrative Item No. 2: No comments.
PAGE 3
IV. REFERRAL ITEMS FOR COMMISSION ACTION /NOTICES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS SINCE MARCH 3, 2009:
Administrative Item No. 1: Commissioner Ruth commended Associate Planner Jim
Bergman. She received positive feedback from the Oliphant's neighbors, who went to
City Hall to ask about the project.
Administrative Item No. 3: After some technical questions and concurrence from HRC
member Gary Scherquist, Commissioner Barneich made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Brown to continue HRD 08 -002 (c) [only the Building and Life safety
building at 200 E. Branch Street] to a date certain of April 21, 2009. Motion approved
on a 5/0 roll call vote.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS: None.
VI. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS AND COMMENTS: None.
VII. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND FOLLOW -UP:
None.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. on a motion by Chair Ray.
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
MARCH 17, 2009
ATTEST:
THY M ► DOZA REARDON- SMITH, CA RAY „CHAIR
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SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION
AS TO CONTENT
J�L�fI 4i r A
RO: TRONG,
COMMUNITY DEVELO MENT DIRECTOR
(Minutes approved 04/07/09)
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